Posted on 02/18/2008 9:31:33 AM PST by meandog
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former President George H.W. Bush urged disgruntled conservatives on Monday to rally around John McCain, calling their criticism of the Republican presidential front-runner "grossly unfair."
The father of President George W. Bush said he was annoyed by attacks within the conservative wing of the Republican Party against the Arizona senator, the all-but-certain Republican nominee to face Democrats in November election.
Many conservatives distrust McCain because of his moderate views on illegal immigration and campaign finance reform and for having originally voted against President Bush's tax cuts. Persuading them all to vote for McCain in November will be a central challenge.
"His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt," the 41st U.S. president, flanked by his wife Barbara, told a joint news conference with McCain in a Houston airport hanger.
"You know, if you've been around the track you hear these criticisms and I think they are grossly unfair. He's got a ... sound conservative record but he's not above reaching out to the other side," he said.
"So I hear these criticisms and Barbara knows I get a little bit annoyed about them frankly," he said, calling them "absurd."
The elder Bush said even former President Ronald Reagan, an icon of the conservative movement, faced attacks from the right wing of the party, citing several quotations from diaries written by Reagan in his early years in office.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Utterly amazing.
Isn’t there a plane somewhere that he needs to parachute out of?
I love the criticism of people like me who refuse to acknowledge McKook as a Republican or a conservative.
I wish he would have found his big mouth when his son was under incessant attack by the Dems or when Bill Clinton was getting tried in the Senate for lying to a Federal judge.
Nope, wouldn’t be prudent.
Poppa Bush—consistently out of touch since 1992.
I am a believer that talk radio should hold back on who they endorse. Call me old fashion but the voters need to make up their own minds. I realize that they have failed this time but things will not get better until the voter wakes up.
The IRCA of 1986 was meant to be a one time amnesty deal. Period. It included severe penalties for employers who hired illegals --- up to a $1,000,000 fine. Ted Kennedy gutted the enforcement provisions and the rest is history. Roughly 2.7 million illegals were effected by the passing of the IRCA of 1986.
Reagan wasn't perfect but he learned from his mistakes and he would not support blanket amnesty for illegals again. If Reagan were around today, he would take a far different position on the illegal immigration issue then he did 20 years ago. Reagan would support enforcement first --- assure the borders were secured and employers halted their practice of hiring illegals in direct violation of US law. I'm confident, Reagan would also support building a barrier along the border with Mexico. Dangerous times require serious decisions be made.
You know we survived 8 years of Bill Clinton and got a republican congress for the first time in 50 years. We survived 4 years of Jimmy Carter and got a Ronald Reagan. I think we could survive another democrat.
When you can't tell the difference between a republican and a democrat it is "time for change".
Even local talk radio (KFYI) is kissing up to McCain. I can’t listen.
This guy agrees with you: Tom Coburn on John McCain at CPAC
The crazy grieving and the disgruntled noise of some hereabouts has become pitifully repetitious.
You may have heard the quip: "Lead, follow or get out of the way."
They can't lead. They don't want to follow. But they love the party noise too much to get out of the way.
Oh, LOL. Speaking of which, I still want my Bob Dole vote refunded.
Did Reagan support Bush 41’s tax increase?
Don’t scandalize Reagan with this Bush Bull Sh*t. The issue is the Bush Clan’s support of McCain, even though McCain crapped on them at every opportunity. The fact that Bush and McCain circle the wagons despite their incongruity speaks volumes of the credibility of the present GOP leadership.
The animosity charade between Bush and McCain is a neo-con RINO con for nitwits. There is not a dime’s worth of difference between Bush, Clinton and McCain... This proves it.
Who are these guys loyal too?
Are they loyal to the Constitution? No. The Bush Clan and McCain demonstrated that in spades.
Are they loyal to Conservatives? No. The Bush Clan and McCain regularly proved their contempt for conservative principles.
The only thing that matters to these whores is their precious ‘Party.’
Well ‘The Party’ is over. The GOP can go take a walk off a high cliff... I’m going to sit back and watch the carnage with a smile. This train wreck couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch of treacherous frauds.
RIP Ronnie ...
Direct hit with a 2000 lb "smart bomb"!
The man doesn't want any law in the way of the bandits, cutthroats, cheats, thieves, narcotrafficantes and others coming up here and killing people, stealing stuff and making a general mess out of this civilization.
All we ask is for a regularlization of immigration through the use of law, and fairness. No one nation should get a monopoly on all the possible immigration slots.
You got a link to back up your claims?
As for my position, McCain will lose badly in November. The only difference between him and the dems is the war, which they can claim is 'won' with Saddam and sons dead, etc.
It’s usually a “reach around” rather than a “reach across”. Makes the Democrats feel good, but there’s no reciprocity.
You sure McCain will win Arizona?
We need a “If you support___________, you might be a Republican, but you are not a Conservative” list.
Remember all those old political cartoons showing Bush “Sr.” carrying a purse?
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